Pressing and ironing machine



Nov. 14, 19396 G. c. E NGB RECHT' ET AL 2,180,103

PRESSING AND IRONI'NG MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931 SSheets-Sheet l Nov. 14, 1939. s. c. ENGBRECHT ETAL 2,130,103

PRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Int/enters.

NOV. 14, 1939. c ENGBRECHT AL 2,180,103

PRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE Original Filed Oct, 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I m/em 660;??? C EgyreZ, fizz Zazz f? 01:02, yam 1/: 0/5022.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE George C. Engbrecht and Arthur J. Olsen, Chicago, Ill., and Anton M. Olsen, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Permo Products Corporation, a corporation of Illinois 20 Claims.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 567,648 filed October 8, 1931,W1'Ll0h was copending at the time of the filing of this application, but which is now abandoned and is a companion case to our issued patent Re.

20,247, issued January 19, 1937,-the latter patent issuing on an application also a division of said application Serial No. 567,648, said patent claiming subject matter shown but not claimed herein;

The invention relates to improvements in pressing and ironing machines and more particularly to an improved portable garment pressing and ironing machine having manually operable means to move one pressing element into pressing engagement with another pressing element and to effect independent movement of either of said pressing elements relative to the other to maintain the proper pressing relation between said elements. I

An object of the invention-is to provide a pressing machine with improved yieldable means to retain the pressing buck tightly against the pressing head when the latter is in position for engagement therewith.

Another object is to provide a pressing and ironing machine of the type including a base having a movably mounted pressing element thereon movable toward and away from a press-' ing buck, with improved means to adjust the position of said pressing buck relative to the movable pressing element and the base.

Another object is to provide a pressing machine with improved manual means to adjust the position of the yieldably mounted buck to compensate for decreases in thickness of a padding on said buck resulting from long continued operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide a portable pressing shown in pressing position. i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine, showing the parts in the pressingposition illustrated inFig. l.

5 Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partially bro- Fig. l is a plan view of the pressing machine,

ken away, of the pressing and ironing machine showing, in full lines, the pressing elements in pressing positionv and, in dotted .lines, locked tightly against the buck in ironing position. I

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, similar to Fig. 3, showing the pressing element raised,'in full lines, and partially depressed, in dotted lines.

The machine illustrated is primarily designed as a portable machine foruse within a home. It is obvious, however, that the features herein described and claimed may readily be embodied in larger types of commercial machines.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is compact, simply constructed and light in weight, said machine comprising generally, 'a base ll. having a pressing buck l2 yieldably mounted thereon to receive, in pressing engagement therewith, a pressing head l3 pivotally and slidably mounted in mounting members I4 carried by the base ll. When in use, the pressing head I3 is swung down against the usual padding on the buck to press an article therebetween and,

I if ironing is desired, said head may be moved over the face of the buck to impart a gloss or sheen to the article being pressed. Although any suitable mans may be utilized to .heat either the pressing head or the buck it is preferable that electrical units l5 be arranged within the pressing head to insure uniform heating of the entire effective surface thereof. The current supply to these units may be controlled by a manually operated or thermostatically controlled switch it conveniently mounted on the pressing head, as best shown in Fig. 1. 1

As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the buck l2 has downwardly extending parallel spaced legs I! and preferably is yieldably mounted on the base I l in a plurality of spacedvertically disposed buck supporting means or bosses I8, each of which is cored or otherwise provided with an axial opening I9 to receive one of the buck legs l1.

For purposes to be more fully described hereinafter it is advisable that the buck l2 be mounted in the buck supporting means ill for vertical adjustment relative to the base. To this end movable supporting elements 2| preferably are arranged one within each boss opening 19 to support suitable compression springs 22 which are interposed, one in each opening 59 between the respective supporting element 2| and the lower end of the associated leg ll. Each of the supporting elements 2| is suitably tapped to resolve the threaded end of one of a plurality of a lug 5| extending in the opposite direction.

studs 23 one of which extends through a vertically disposed slot 24 provided in each boss I8. The projecting end of each stud 23 preferably has a winged head 25 to facilitate rotation thereof.

A friction block 26 preferably is disposed between each head 25 and the substantially fiat serrated face 2'! on the respective boss l8. One,

face 28 of each friction block 26 also preferably is serrated to frictionally co-operate with the serrations 21 on said respective boss. Obviously each supporting element 2| is readily moved vertically within its boss |8 upon loosening the respective stud 23 suificiently to permit raising or lowering of said supporting element. When the studs 23 are tightened the elements 2| are securely locked against displacement. Uniform adjustment of all the supporting elements obviously uniformly repositions the spring 22 vertically and as the buck is supported solely by said springs it likewise is repositioned relative to the base. At no time is the tension on the springs 22 increased or decreased solely because of such adjustment. The visible serrated co-operating faces 2'! and 2B insure uniform adjustment of the supporting elements in each of the bosses l6 thus rendering it a simple matter to maintain the buck l2 substantially horizontal.

The pressing head |3 preferably is suspended above the buck |2 on the underside of and adjacent one end of each of a pair of spaced parallel arms 3| by suitable spaced pins or plungers 32 each of which extends through a hollowed boss 33, two of which are provided on each arm. The arms 3| extend rearwardly from the pressing head l3 and each is provided, adjacent its free end, with a short longitudinal slot 34 to receive therein a roller 35 carried by a pin 36 mounted in the upper end of each mounting member |4.

Extending rearwardly downwardly from the free end 31 of each arm is an arcuate extension 38 defining, with said end an arcuate slot 39 which is arranged to co-operate with a locking roller 4| also journaled one in each mounting 4 rearwardly of rollers 35. The extreme end of each arcuate extension 38 is connected to one end of an associated balancing spring 42 which has its other end secured to the base I! at 43. When the co-operating pressing elements are in the non-pressing position shown in Fig. 4, the locking rollers 4| co-operate with slots 39 in the arms 3| to retain said arms elevated with the rear end of slot 34 against the associated rollers 35. The balancing springs 42 retain the upper pressing element, which comprises the arms 3| and the pressing head l3, in said raised position.

Extending between the arms 3| substantially in vertical alignment with the longitudinal axis of the pressing head I3 is a rod 44 preferably carrying for rotating forwardly and upwardly extending spaced arms 45 connected at their forward ends by a cross member 46. The arms 45 together with the cross member 46 provide a manually controlled operating handle 41. Each arm 45 preferably has a boss 48- bored to receive the rod 44 and said bosses are each preferably provided with spaced ears 49 extending substantially at right angles to the arms 45 and A cam roller 52 is journaled between each pair of ears 49 for co-operating in a manner to be described hereinafter with one of a pair of cam surfaces 53 on the upper face of the pressing head |3. A pair of links 54 preferably are provided one connected at one end to each of the bearing pins 36 and at their other end to lugs 5|.

To actuate the machine the operating handle 41 is moved downwardly manually carrying the pressing element into pressing engagement with the buck l2 substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. During this downward movement the pressing element can not slide in its mounting because of the lock rollers 4| which are engaged in arcuate slots 39. When the pressing head is in engagement with the buck or any article thereon, the rollers 4| are free of the slots 39. After the pressing head is in engagement with the buck l2 (Fig. 3) continued movement down wardly of the handle 41 turns said handle about the rod 44 causing the entire pressing element (head and arms) to be urged rearwardly, by links 54 against the tension of springs 42 until the forward end of slots 34 abut rollers 35. While the pressing element is moving rearwardly the locking rollers 4| are positioned below the bottom edge of the arms 3| and lock said arms substantially horizontally. During this movement the cam rollers 52 travel along the respective cams 53 urging the pressing head I3 tightly against the yieldably mounted buck independently of further downward movement of the arms 3|. Movement of the entire pressing element (arms and head) about its pivotal mounting at 35, without rearward or independent downward movement of the pressing head l3 relative to the arms 3|, is easily accomplished by having the springs 42 of such a tension as to balance the entire pressing element in a manner which may be easily overcome by the slightest manual pressure.

It is quite apparent that the ironing feature (sliding of the head) need not be utilized. In this event the entire pressing element is returned to raised position after reaching the position of pressing shown in full lines in Fig. 3. If desired the links 54 may be omitted from the machine.

It is clear that the structures disclosed herein provide suitable means to adjust the buck vertically to accommodate articles of various thicknesses and to compensate for decreases in thickness of the padding on the buck resulting from long continued service. This adjustability also allows accurate positioning of the buck relative to the head during assembly of the machine.

Although exemplary forms of the improved pressing and ironing machine are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the foregoing description, it is to be understood that various means for mounting the pivotally mounted pressing element, such as are illustrated in our Reissue Patent No. 20,247, reissued January 19, 1937, may readily be substituted for the structure shown and that, although the independent supporting elements shown and described preferably are employed to adjustably support the yieldable buck, a single support or other suitable means to adjust the yieldable means vertically may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an ironing machine having a base, an ironing head and a buck mounted on the base, and means for moving the head down to and up away from the buck, means for resiliently supporting said buck comprising supporting means on said base, resilient means carried by said supporting means reacting against the buck to maintain the same spaced from the supporting means,

and means whereby said supporting means may be adjusted vertically with reference to the base.

2. In a pressing machine having a base, a pressing head and a buck mounted on said base, and means for moving the head down to and up away from the buck, means for supporting said buck including supporting elements on said base, means on said supporting elements bearing against the buck to maintain the same spaced from the supporting elements, and means to adjust said supporting elements vertically with reference to the base.

3. A pressing machine having a base, a buck, a mounting on said base, a head supported for pivotal movement on said mounting, means for moving the head down to and up away from said buck, means for resiliently supporting said buck including supporting elements on said base, resilient means carried by said supporting elements reacting against the buck to maintain the same spaced from the supporting elements, and means to adjust said supporting elements vertically with reference to the base.

4. A portable pressing machine having, in combination, a base, a pressing head, a buck, a plurality of springs supporting the buck above the base, and manual means for positively adjusting the spring supported buck vertically with respect to the base.

5. A portable pressing machine having, in combination, a base, a pressing head, a buck, supports on said base, a plurality of springs on said supports supporting the buck above the base, and manual means for positively adjusting the supports to move the buck vertically with respect to the base.

6. A portable pressing machine having, in combination, a base, a pressing head, a buck, supports on said base, yieldable means on said supports supporting the buck above the base, and manual means for positively adjusting the supports to move the buck vertically with respect to the base.

7. In a pressing machine, in combination, a base, a pressing head, a movable buck, said buck being mounted on said base, means associated with said base for supporting said buck thereon, said means being adjustably movable to move said buck relative to said base, and resilient means reacting between said buck and the adjustably movable means.

8. In a pressing machine, the combination of, a pair of co-operating pressing elements, a base, means on said base supporting one of said elements movable to carry said one element into pressing engagement with the other element, yieldable means supporting said other element, and adjustable means supporting said yieldable means on said base, said adjustable means being adjustable in the direction of yield of said yieldable means.

9. In a pressing machine, the combination of, a base, a pressing head and a buck supported thereon, said head being movable down to and up away from the buck through a predetermined distance, a handle for moving said head through said distance and for creating pressure between said head and buck, supports on said base, yieldable means on said supports to retain the buck in pressing relation to said head when the latter is in its down position, and means to adjust the position of said yieldable means in the direction of yield thereof to maintain a uniform predetermined pressure between said head and buck irrespective of the thickness of an article being pressed therebetween.

10. In a pressing machine, the combination of,

a movable head, means for locking said head in a rigid position, a movable buck, said buck being movable toward and from said head when the latter is in rigid position, resilient means for urging said buck toward said head, and manual means for adjusting the vertical position of the buck for predetermining the point in the path of movement of said head toward said buck at which the head will begin to engage the adjacent surface of the buck, to urge the same against said resilient means.

11. In a pressing machine, the combination of, 15 a movable head, means for locking said head in a rigid position, a movable buck, said buck being movable toward and from said head when the latter is in rigid position, resilient means for urging said buck toward said head, and manual means co-operating with said resilient means for moving said buck toward or away from said head.

12. In a pressing machine, a head movable into and out of pressing position, means for locking said head in pressing position, a movable buck, said buck being capable of engaging said head when the latter is in pressing position, spring means normally supporting said buck and urging said buck toward the head to maintain pressure therebetween, and adjustable means cooperable with said spring to alter the position of the buck to vary said pressure between said head and. said buck.

13. In a pressing machine, the combination of a pair of relatively movable pressing elements, means operable to move one of said elements into and out of position for pressing engagement with the other element, springs supporting said other element, supports for said springs, and means to adjust said supports to carry the element supported thereby toward said movable element when the latter is in pressing position.

14. In a pressing machine, the combination of a pair of relatively movable pressing elements, means operable to move one of said elements into and out of position for pressing engagement with the other element, yieldable means supporting said other element, means to adjust said yieldable means to carry the element supported thereby toward said movable element when the latter is in pressing position.

15. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, a head and a buck, said buck being yieldably mounted for vertical adjustment relative to said head, the head having parts slidably mounted on a pivotally mounted support, said head normally being suspended therefrom,

'means on said support operable to carry the support and head downwardly toward the buck and lock the head in engagement with said buck, said engagement also moving the head tightly against said support, and means actuated by said head moving means to urge the head tightly against the yieldable buck independently of movement of said support.

16. In a pressingmachine, the combination of, a base, a head and a buck supported thereon, said head being movable down to and up away from the buck, a handle for moving said head and for creating pressure between said head and buck, means to lock said head in pressing position, yieldable means supporting said buck in position for pressing engagement by said head, and means to adjust the position. of said yieldable means to maintain a uniform pressure between said head and buck irrespective of the thickness of an article being pressed therebetween.

17. A pressing and ironing machine including an ironing head and a yieldably mounted buck, a base, supporting elements for the buck on said base adjustable to move the buck vertically with respect to said base, at least one arm supporting said ironing head, said arm being pivotally and slidably mounted adjacent one end to said base, a handle on said arm movable relative thereto, and means actuated by said handle to slide said arm in its mounting to move the head across the face of the buck while said head is in pressing engagement therewith.

18. A pressing and ironing machine including an ironing head and a yieldably mounted buck, a base, supporting elements for said buck on said base, means to adjust said supporting elements to move the buck vertically with respect to said base, arms supporting said head, said arms being pivotally and slidably mounted adjacent one end, a handle on said arms for moving the head toward and away from said buck, said handle being movable relative to said arms, and means actuated by said handle to slide said arms in their mounting to move the head across the face of the buck while said head is in engagement therewith.

19. A pressing and ironing machine including an ironing head and a buck, a base, supporting elements for the buck on said base adjustable to move the buck vertically with respect to said base, movable arms supporting said head, a handle on said arms, and means actuated by said handle to move the head into engagement with the buck and then slide the head across the face of the buck while said head remains in engagement therewith.

20. In a pressing machine, in combination, a base, a pressing head, a movable buck, said buck being mounted on said base, means associated with said base for supporting said buck thereon, said means being adjustably movable to move said buck relative to said base, and resilient means associated with said buck, said means reacting with said buck and the adjustably movable means to impart yieldability to the movement of the buck in its adjusted positions.

GEORGE C. ENGBRECHT. ARTHUR J. OLSEN. ANTON M. OLSEN. 

